Formula 1: Max Verstappen was quickest in qualifying but will serve a 10-place grid penalty so Charles Leclerc.
If you saw a George Russell -led Mercedes one-two finish coming before the start of the Belgian Grand Prix, you’re lying — especially if you also predicted Russell would be disqualified after the race.
It’s the way the Briton would won it — totally different to what had been a growing list of near misses in recent years. It’s not that he was cracking under pressure; it was that he had a tendency almost to become overwhelmed by his chances, losing the cool composure he otherwise oozes lower down the field.While it’s true the race came to him, once it became clear he had a good chance of winning the race, he was flawless.
There were suggestions after the race that Russell’s long 34-lap stint meant his tyres had worn so badly over the stint that he’d fallen below the minimum weight. A weight advantage of 1.5 kilograms would equate to something in the realm of 0.045 seconds per lap as a rough calculation. It should therefore take nothing away from Russell’s individual performance nor Mercedes’s return to form over this weekend.BUT MERCEDES STILL ON RIGHT TRACK AFTER SHOT IN THE DARK
The team was so desperate that it took off its new floor on Saturday morning. It was a risk — not only did it mean Friday’s running was rendered largely meaningless, but Saturday’s wet weather meant there was no way for the team to validate the new set-up.
The Mexican has been under increasing pressure ever since he signed a two-year contract extension in June, with his nosediving results leaving the team vulnerable to McLaren in the constructors championship. “Sergio had the opportunity to take a good result from second place. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case,” Red Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko told Sky Sport in Germany. “Especially in the last stint, he completely collapsed.“Of course every result is for Sergio, and eighth place from second on the grid is certainly not what we expected.”
Red Bull Racing’s choices to replace Pérez are thought to be between Daniel Ricciardo and Liam Lawson. A private RB filming day in Imola later this week had been billed a shootout for the seat. It’s unclear whether Red Bull Racing will commit to ending Pérez’s inconsistent tenure with the team and, if it does so, whether it will move during the break.
Errors Battling Filming Day Pit Lane Post-Race Protocols North America One-Stop Strategy TITLE GAP Grid Penalty George Russell Tracks Drivers Minimum Weight Race Time Victory Chances Post-Race Scrutineering Lando Norris World Champion Constructors Championship Europe Exit Clause Helmut Marko Western Europe Qualifying Session Dry-Weather Set-Up Canada Final Laps Northern America Podium Fight Seven-Time Champion Belgium Sergio Pérez South-Eastern Asia Southern Europe Italy Technical Regulations Sky Sports Germany Penultimate-Lap Stop Grands Prix Standout Performers Minimum Car Singapore Mid-Season Break Regular Victory Contenders Maiden Victory Mechanical Issue Title Race Crude Calculation Max Verstappen Netherlands Alternative Strategy Automatic Disqualifications Gifting Victory Andrea Stella America Imola Cars Turn Andrew Shovlin Highest Profile Example Two-Year Contract Extension Charles Leclerc Talking Points Mitigating Circumstances Points Scored Motorsport Adviser Six-Race Run Genuine Error Drivers Championship Parc Ferme Fightback Flop Highest Scoring Team Base Number Grand Prix Victory Final Point Asia Attacking Race Form Race Winner Final Stint Regular Wins Jo Bauer
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